Automobile hood latch



May 8, 1928. 1,669,356

E. A. STEVENSON AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH Filed March 22, 1927 INVENTOR EJZ. Siverzson ATTORNEY BY M 4.

Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH.

Application filed March '22, 1927. Serial No. 177,366.

The present. invention is concerned with the provision of an automobile hood latch primarily adapted to prevent. unauthorized opening of a hood and tampering with the engine of a parked car.

To accomplish this purpose I preferably provide concealed automatically-acting latch means under the hood, and mount latch releasing means on the instrument board of a car. Thus, with the hood down, and the car itself closed and locked, it is impossible for an unauthorized person to gain access to the engine. I

An object of the invention is to provide a hood lock of the general character above noted which may be readilyattached to any standard make of car, which will be of simple practical construction, extremely unlikely to get out of order, rugged and durable in use, and Well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture and convenient installation.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereina Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the front of an automobile body showing rather diagrammatically my improved hood latch and its operating means. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragn'ientary view in inside elevation showing the manner of mounting the latch and indicating in dotted lines the position of the latch and its associated parts when retracted.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have used the reference character 10 to designate generally an automobile body including the usual longitudinally extending channelled chassis frame bars 11. The radiator has been indicated at- 12, hood at. 13. dash-board at 14. cowl at 15. and instrument board at 16.

The present invention is primarily con cerned with the provision of aconcealed hood latching means controlled from the, instrument board,

into the full line position of Fig. 2,

'lhe latching means at opposite sides of the hood are. similar, and a description of one will sutlice for both. A strip of metal 17 is formed with a right angular twist at its intermediate portion providing a flat up per end 18 to be riveted or otherwise secured at 19 to the inner face of the hood near the lower edge of the latter, and to provide :1 depending bolt portion 20 extending below the edge of the hood and working through a slot :21 in the upper flange of the chassis frame bar 11.

A latclrbearing plate 23 is riveted or otherwise secured at 24 to the under face of the flange 22, and a latch member 25 is pivoted as at 26 between ears 27 depending from the plate 23. This latch member is acted on by the end of a flat spring 28 secured to the plate 23, and normally rocked wherein it will be noted that it enters a slot 29 in the bolt 20. The upper surface of the latch pro vides a cani face at 30, so that in the ordinary operation of closing the hood. the lower end of the bolt will depress the latch to the dotted line position of Fig. Zagainst the action of itsspring 2B, and the latch will snap back into the opening 2t.

Means is provided for withdrawing the latch 25 to release the bolt 20 and permit the sides of the hood to be freely ,hingedly lifted in the usual manner. This means includes a flexible device 31 attached to a yoke 32 pivoted to the latch. The flexible device is preferably run through an armored cable and connected to an operating handle 34 on the instrun'ientboard.

It will be observed with particular rcl'en ence to Fig. 3. that the latch member is provided with a flat surface normally lying against the face of the latch plate 23 and limiting therocking or swinging move ment of the latch under the influence of its spring Q8.

in operation the hood is closed in the usual manner. hutfin order to raise'thc hood again. it is necessary to have access to the operating handle 34 for withdrawing the automatic latches it will thus be apparent that if the device is used on a closed car. the operator may park the car and lock it with absolute assurance that the engine will not be tampered with in his absence.

Various; change and alterations might. be

made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claimi 1. The combination with an automobile including channelled chassis bars and a hood. of a latch member in the chassis bar channel and a bolt on the hood working through a slot in the chassis bar and engaged by said latch, a plate secured to the under face of the upper chassis bar flange, ears on the plate between which the latch is 2. The combination with an automobile including channelled chassis bars and a hood, of a latch member in the chassis bar channel and a bolt on the hood .working through a slot in the chassis bar and engaged by said latch, a plate secured to the under face of the upper chassis bar flange, ears on the plate between which the latch is pivoted and a spring on the plate urging the latch to bolt-engaging position, said latch including a flat side engageable with the plate to limit movement of the latch in one direction under the influence of the spring.

EMMETT A. STEVENSON. 

